Tyler’s eyes locked on mine.
He was thinking the same thing I was. Bill, Arianne, Aunt Pearl, or maybe even all three, were lying.
The movie shoot, and the financial fortune that came with it, was about to crash to a halt. And nothing could stop it but the truth.
10
Tyler needed my help, whether he knew it or not. Witchcraft was almost certainly involved in at least some of the goings-on. And I worried that Aunt Pearl had somehow tampered with the guns. Unintentional or not, it had very real consequences. What if her actions had blurred the trail to the real killer?
Or worse. What if her actions had caused Dirk’s death in the first place?
I glanced over at Tyler, who sat opposite one of the cameramen, a gray-haired, heavyset man in his fifties. Each interview only seemed to highlight the discrepancies about the guns. Instead of new leads, all of the testimony seemed to go right back to Bill, Aunt Pearl, and their conflicting accounts. We were no further ahead.
I strained my ears and caught snippets of conversation as the man recounted the moments before the shooting while Tyler made notes. He had completed preliminary interviews with most of the cast and crew, and only a few cast members remained to give eyewitness accounts.
The area outside the bank where Dirk had been shot was now cordoned off with yellow police tape. Arianne had been allowed to return to her trailer. Tyler’s questioning and several eyewitness accounts had placed her at the scene but behind Dirk. The bullet’s trajectory meant that she couldn’t have possibly shot him in the chest. While no one had been completely ruled out, multiple eyewitness accounts had confirmed Arianne’s on set location. The deadly bullet hadn’t been fired from her gun.
Aunt Pearl’s voice rose from where she stood a few feet away. “Why didn’t you tell anybody about the missing gun, Bill? Makes you look suspicious if you ask my opinion. Maybe you killed Dirk and you’re covering it up.”
“Nobody asked you,” snapped Bill.
“Well, it’s high time somebody did.” Aunt Pearl sniffed. “If you ask me, Sheriff Gates is wasting valuable time. You yourself told me you couldn’t stand Dirk Diamond. Yet you didn’t tell the sheriff that. You hiding something, Bill?”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous. I admit I hated Dirk, especially the way he tormented Steven. But killing him is like killing the golden goose. It puts us all out of work.” He threw his hands up in the air. “I’m not an exception because we all hated him. But no star means no movie.”
“I bet I could find some new talent. Some unknown actor who doesn’t ask for the moon,” Aunt Pearl said. “Though you’d have to pay him danger pay to work on this movie. Apparently actors are pretty expendable these days.”
That was one thing I agreed with Aunt Pearl on. Both Rose Lamont’s and Dirk Diamond’s deaths were suspicious, to say the least.
Bill snorted. “This whole shoot is so unorganized. First we had the last-minute location change, and then all the script rewrites. I never mentioned the missing gun because the actors always seem to be above the law. They do whatever they want and never get in trouble. Nobody ever follows the rules around here.”
It struck me that nobody had really explained why the location had changed from a Hollywood set lot to Westwick Corners. While I doubted that it factored into the murders, it was certainly easier to get away with murder in a small town.
“Changing from knives to guns seems like a major script change. Are the rewrites usually this significant?” I asked.
Bill rolled his eyes. “Dirk rewrites stuff all the time. But if I complain I get blamed. I never make a big deal about it because I’ve used up all my favors in this business and I can’t afford to get fired. Steven is my last chance at a job. He’s the only one willing to hire me.”
“I can see why he’s your last shot,” Aunt Pearl said. “Steven’s got a soft heart. Nobody else would put up with you for long. You’re always sneaking off for a drink.”
“I went for a smoke, okay? More remarks like that and I’ll fire you. I’m only putting up with you as a favor to Steven.”
Aunt Pearl snorted. “More like I’m doing you a favor. Even a drunk me is better than a sober you. I bet I could do a way better job.”
It was a moot point because Aunt Amber had arranged Aunt Pearl’s job through Steven. In the unlikely event that filming resumed, I figured that Aunt Pearl would lose her job too, since Aunt Amber was no longer speaking to Steven.
Bill held up his hands palms outward, as if to repel Aunt Pearl. “Don’t even think about it, or I’ll make sure you regret it.”
“Are you threatening me?” Aunt Pearl stood defiant, hands on hips.
“Aunt Pearl, stop it.”
“You better believe I’m threatening you.” Bill shook his fist at Aunt Pearl. “You better go before I fire one of those guns at you.”
Suddenly a ten-foot wall of flame shot up in front of us. I shielded my eyes from the blinding light as the heat seared my skin. I stumbled backward.
“What the heck—” Bill backed away from the flames. “Even worse than I thought. You’re going to kill us all.”
“You said ‘fire’. I’m just following instructions.” Aunt Pearl fluttered her eyelashes. “You should be more specific.”
Bill lunged at Aunt Pearl, his face scarlet with rage.
I blocked him just in time. “Stop it, both of you, and help me put the fire out.” Sweat trickled down my face from the heat. I grabbed the wooden gun box and pulled it away from the flames. “This is no time for tricks, Aunt Pearl. Your special effects and prop days are officially over.”
“But I’m really good at it.” She pouted.
“Put it out, now.” I couldn’t put out another witch’s spell. I could cast one of my own, but in the heat of the moment my mind drew a blank.
“You want me to use witchcraft?”
Before I could answer, Tyler carried over one of the large water cooler bottles and dumped it on the flames. We all erupted into fits of coughing from the smoke as the fire was extinguished.
“Thanks,” Bill said.
Tyler just shook his head and turned back to the man he was questioning.
Aunt Pearl was digging us into a deeper hole. I just hoped Brayden hadn’t seen the flames from his City Hall office across the street. Steven Scarabelli probably regretted ever setting foot in our town and would never come back.
“Just go ahead and make my day, Bill. I don’t care that you fired me,” Aunt Pearl said. “I’m starting my own special effects company, and I’ll make sure you’ll never work in this town again.”
“Fine with me.” Bill snorted. “I can’t wait to get out of this hick town. But before I do, I’ll make sure your name is mud. No one in the movie industry will ever work with you. I guarantee it.”
“Better lock your door tonight.” Aunt Pearl grinned slyly. “On the other hand, don’t bother. I’ve got a key to your room. Not that I need keys to get into anything.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bill’s face reddened. “You’re the one who tampered with my props, aren’t you? I knew it!”
“Aunt Pearl, stop it!” I yanked her away and whispered, “You realize you’re incriminating yourself?” Taking away Aunt Pearl’s housekeeping keys wasn’t nearly enough to keep Bill safe at the Inn. I had to somehow sidetrack her so she forgot about her feud with him. “I need your help.”
Her lower lip stuck out in a pout. “People say they want my help, but then it just turns out to be boring. Amber stuck me with Bill on purpose, just to keep me out of the way.”
“That’s exactly why I need you. I want you to talk to Aunt Amber and find out what sort of spells she’s used for the movie.” I glanced at Tyler. He wouldn’t want my family’s help because my aunts were a mess of trouble. But what he didn’t know would land him an even bigger problem with Mayor Brayden Banks.
“Why bother? You already have the smoking gun.” Aunt Pearl pointed at Bill. “We know Bill’s as guilty as
sin. He’s too incompetent to cover his tracks and get away with murder.”
Bill, who by now was out of earshot, still seemed to get the gist of our conversation. He gave Aunt Pearl the finger in return.
“It’s true that Bill’s a lousy liar and not very good at his job. His story is suspect, but it’s more a smoldering gun than a smoking one. Leave that part to me. I need your expertise for something else. Why did Aunt Amber bring High Noon Heist to Westwick Corners in the first place?”
“You want me to investigate my own sister? I’m not Big Brother, you know. Or Big Sister.” Aunt Pearl made air quotes with her fingers.
“You want someone else to?”
Aunt Pearl shook her head slowly as realization set in. “I doubt witchcraft got Dirk killed. But even if Amber screwed up, I know she never meant to kill anyone.”
“I don’t know what happened and who’s to blame, but I know witchcraft is what brought the movie here. We need to separate what’s real from what’s contrived, otherwise the investigation could go in the wrong direction.”
“You mean Sheriff Gates could go in the wrong direction.” Aunt Pearl snorted. “The sheriff wouldn’t see the killer in plain sight. Why should I help him?”
“Do it for me, Aunt Pearl.” I squeezed her arm a little harder than necessary. “And hurry. There’s no time to waste.”
I just hoped it wasn’t too late.
11
Tyler and I watched Aunt Pearl disappear down the street in search of Aunt Amber. She had no sooner left when Brayden Banks stormed towards us, his face flushed in anger.
“Uh-oh.” Tyler’s eyes locked on mine. “Here comes trouble.”
I nodded politely at Brayden but he studiously avoided my gaze. Our break-up had been many months ago, but it was always awkward in a small town. We constantly ran into each other no matter how hard we tried to avoid it. And there was no avoiding the fact that my new boyfriend was Brayden’s subordinate. If it was hard for me, it was even worse for Tyler.
Brayden scanned the set before eyeing Tyler up and down. “Finding Dirk Diamond’s killer is our top priority. Drop everything else and focus on this and nothing else. We need it solved yesterday.”
“I’m on it,” Tyler said.
Brayden shook his head slowly, like a father disappointed with an irresponsible son. “I don’t see much happening here at all. You don’t even know where to start, do you?”
“Actually, we’ve got a few good leads—”
“Leads?” Brayden snorted. “You should have the killer by now.”
Brayden Banks’ sole motivation as mayor was to make a name for himself and Westwick Corners, in that order. The murder of a big Hollywood star was just the ticket, as long as the case was solved. No doubt he would take all the credit too.
Tyler stood his ground. “The autopsy will be done tomorrow, and we’ve narrowed down a list of suspects.”
“Do I have to do your job for you, Sheriff Gates? Scarabelli did it. Anybody can see that.” Brayden’s half-smile told me that, despite the circumstances, he enjoyed every minute of berating Tyler in public.
Tyler opened his mouth but thought better of it.
“Have you interrogated him yet?” Brayden tapped his foot impatiently, a thin sheen of dust coating his Italian calfskin shoes.
Tyler shook his head and spoke in a low voice, “Scarabelli’s next on my list.”
I felt compelled to come to Tyler’s defense. “He’s already found the likely murder weapon. Forensics still needs to examine it.”
“Nobody asked you,” Brayden snapped.
Tyler’s mouth tightened into a thin line as he held his temper in check.
“Why didn’t you interview Scarabelli first?” Brayden frowned. “Word on the street is that he and Diamond had contract issues. So Scarabelli kills him. Not only does he solve his problem, but he collects the insurance money too. Apparently you weren’t aware of that.”
“Steven Scarabelli put a price on Dirk’s head? I don’t believe it.” I flashed back to Aunt Pearl’s claim of Steven standing by the prop box. It put him at the scene—except that I hadn’t seen him there, and I had been standing right beside her. Our eyewitness accounts sort of canceled each other out. Either one of us was wrong, or one of us was lying.
Brayden shook his head. “You’re so naïve. Scarabelli knew Dirk was going to be difficult, maybe even back out of the film. He took out insurance policies on his main stars. He killed Dirk to collect the insurance money. Aside from not having to put up with his cantankerous star anymore, he doesn’t even have to finish the film. It’s his retirement fund.”
I flashed back to Rose Lamont’s sudden death. Maybe somebody wanted the couple dead, but Steven Scarabelli seemed an unlikely suspect. A blockbuster sequel would almost certainly make more at the box office than any insurance payout. Dirk was difficult to work with, but it was still harder for Steven to make a living without him. He couldn’t film the sequel without his stars. And it was obvious to everyone that Steven loved his work. I couldn’t imagine him doing anything to stop it. Everybody seemed to love him too.
Everyone but Dirk.
Someone gasped beside me. I turned to see Aunt Amber. She was arm in arm with Aunt Pearl.
“Is it true? Dirk is really dead?” Her eyes were red from crying and mascara was smeared across one cheek. “What happens to the movie?”
“Filming’s on hold for the moment,” Tyler said. “We’ve got a killer on the loose.”
Aunt Amber’s hand flew to her chest. “Oh my goodness, as the leading lady, I’m probably next. First Rose, and now Dirk. I’ll need police protection. My life’s in danger!”
Brayden rolled his eyes.
“You’re safe, Amber,” Tyler said. “I promise.”
Brayden snorted but didn’t say anything.
“You were fired, remember? You’re not in the movie anymore.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Aunt Amber’s mouth dropped open. “You knew that already? Before I even did? Cen, you’re worse than Steven. You, my own flesh and blood, betrayed me! I thought Steven was my friend, but he just took advantage of me.”
“I’m sorry, Aunt Amber. I only overheard it just before Steven talked to you.” I had inadvertently exposed her secret, and now everyone else knew she was fired too. I understood her anger, but we had no time for hurt feelings with a killer in our midst.
Brayden gave Amber a strange, confused look.
Tyler turned to Brayden. “Where did you get this information on Scarabelli?”
“I’m friends with the Los Angeles D.A.,” Brayden said. “They’ve been investigating Scarabelli for months. He’s heavily in debt and close to bankrupt. His future rested entirely on this film.”
No doubt our little town would soon be swarming with Hollywood tabloid reporters willing to give Brayden the airtime he craved. And he would pass on every detail to his L.A. connections in the D.A.’s office.
“Then killing Dirk Diamond hardly makes sense,” I said. “This movie would have earned Steven Scarabelli millions. Why kill the main star?” Dirk’s killer was almost certainly a movie insider, but my gut told me it wasn’t Steven Scarabelli. Aside from being well liked and respected, he loved movie-making. I just couldn’t see Steven killing off the star that made him millions.
Aunt Amber gasped. “Steven was desperate, but he wouldn’t kill anyone. Not even for money. I know he had a tight budget, but killing Dirk accomplished nothing. He would have made way more money at the box office. He just had some temporary cash flow problems.”
“No wonder you got the part!” Aunt Pearl snorted. “He couldn’t find anyone else at the right price and he was desperate to fill the role. I knew there had to be a catch.”
“Are you doubting my talent?” Aunt Amber placed her hands on her hips.
I stepped in between my two aunts. “There’s no time for fighting. Let’s do what we can to help find the killer.”
Aunt Pearl’s brows k
nitted together. “First Rose Lamont and now Dirk Diamond. I’d say that Brayden’s probably right. Steven Scarabelli has found a new income stream. You better watch your back, Amber. No doubt he’s got an insurance policy on you too.”
“That’s ridiculous. Steven’s a jerk, but he’s not a killer. ” A flicker of doubt crossed Aunt Amber’s face for a split second. Then it was replaced by anger. “If he fired me, he sure as heck isn’t collecting insurance on me.”
“Maybe it doesn’t matter whether you’re in the movie or not.” Aunt Pearl smirked.
“Of course it matters!” Aunt Amber’s voice broke as she wiped tears from her cheek. It wasn’t clear what she was more upset about—her firing or Steven’s supposed motives.
“Aunt Pearl! Don’t speculate about things like that. It’s dangerous.” I made a cutting motion across my neck. I didn’t want to give Brayden even more crazy ideas.
“Scarabelli and Diamond have had a lot of run-ins lately. Word is that Diamond was about to drop Scarabelli. Some technicality in the contract or something,” Brayden said. “Scarabelli was deeply in debt.”
That jived with the argument I had overheard earlier, except for the contract part, since Dirk Diamond hadn’t actually signed the contract yet. Apparently Brayden’s source was unaware of that one detail.
“I’ll look into it,” Tyler promised.
“You better do more than look into it,” Brayden said. “I want Scarabelli arrested by the end of the day. Otherwise I’m calling in the Washington State Police.”
“We don’t have grounds to arrest him,” Tyler protested. “I need to do a full investigation before reaching any conclusions.”
Aunt Pearl waved her hand like an overzealous first grader. “What about the prop—”
I clamped a hand over Aunt Pearl’s mouth. “Never mind.”
“He’s a flight risk, Sheriff Gates.” Brayden scowled. “Either you arrest him or I’ll get your replacement to do it.”
Witch and Famous--A Westwick Witches Cozy Mystery Page 8
